Horse Racing Notes : Ohio Derby Is Gaining More Stature Each Year

One of the biggest surprises of the May 7 Kentucky Derby was the post-race decision by trainer Bob Holthus to skip the Preakness Stakes with fourth-place finisher Proper Reality in favor of a string of midwest races, including the the $250,000 Ohio Derby June 18.

Though horses who finished further behind Derby winner Winning Colors were going on to Baltimore, Holthus said he was tired of “knocking heads” with the top 3-year-olds.

Likewise, Dianne Carpenter, trainer of 14th-place Kingpost, said she’d give her gelding a rest and then ship him to Thistledown, near Cleveland, for the Ohio Derby. A couple other trainers also said they were considering the Grade II mile-and-an-eighth stakes.

Though there are several other mid-summer races for 3-year-olds with larger purses, higher grading or more prestige on the stakes calendar, the Ohio Derby appears to be becoming increasingly popular, particularly to trainers with late-developing 3-year-olds.

The winners of the past four Ohio Derbies -- At The Threshold, Skip Trial, Broad Brush and Lost Code -- have all gone on to become multiple Grade I stakes winners.

This year, Thistledown attracted 40 nominations well before the May 21 deadline.

“I don’t know why exactly we’re becoming so popular,” said Bill Mooney, director of publicity and media relations. “I think one of the things that helps us out is trainers aren’t rushing 3-year-olds anymore, so there are a lot of late-developing 3-year-olds.

“Also, we’re very active in soliciting nominations. Once the Triple Crown races start, we always have someone on the backstretch. We also have a reputation for treating people very well there.”

Whatever the reasons, Mooney is correct in saying, that a “number of great horses have had their coming out parties at the Ohio Derbies.”

If you want to get an idea of which horses may be making late bids for the 3-year-old colt championship, keep your eye on the Ohio Derby

Jockey Angel Cordero, trainers Angel Penna and Jacob Pincus join three race horses as the latest electees to thoroughbred racing’s Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, N.Y, in August.

The horses elected are 1969 Kentucky Derby winner Majestic Prince, 1974 filly Triple Crown winner Chris Evert and the late Emperor of Norfolk, a champion in 1887 and 1888.

Oscar Barrera, four-time New York training champion, has been suspended 45 days for illegal use of an anti-inflammatory drug, and New York veteran Bob DeBonis has lost his license for the filing of fraudulent foaling papers. Both sanctions were issued by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

Barrera’s suspension, which began May 17 and runs through June 30, was issued because Barrera’s horse Straight Dancer tested positive for an illegal anti-inflammatory following his victory in the third race at Aqueduct April 18. It was Barrera’s first suspension in 22 years in New York. During his absence his horses will be trained by his brother, Guillermo.

Winning Colors’ May 7 victory in the Kentucky Derby should be interpreted by the Philadelphia Phillies as good news, according to New York Daily News sportswriter Bill Madden. That’s because the Phillies won titles the only other years fillies won the Derby -- Regret in 1915 and Genuine Risk in 1980.

Notes

The 6-year-old mare Queen Alexandra has been retired to become a brood mare after winning 19 of 46 starts and $1,031,354 ... 1987 Travers winner Java Gold, sidelined with a minor foot fracture since he raced in the Jockey Club Gold Cup last October, returned to the track for his first 1988 breeze May 16, clocking three eighths of a mile at Belmont Park in 37 seconds. Joe Rosen, agent for Garden State apprentice Steve Capanas, also will handle the book of Californian jockey Marco Castenada at the summer Monmouth Park meet ... Crusader Sword, who beat Forty Niner in the 1987 Saratoga Special, injured a left front tendon in a May 12 race at Belmont Park and will miss the June 11 Belmont Stakes.